Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
63 Highest Paying Jobs in Indianapolis, IN (2026)
The highest-paying job in Indianapolis, IN, Indiana is Obstetrician/Gynecologist with a median salary of $346,920 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data. Across all 63 tracked occupations the average median is $105,410, with 29 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. Indianapolis, IN has a cost-of-living index of 90.1 (national average = 100), so a $105,410 nominal salary equals $116,992 in average-cost-metro buying power.
The 63 occupations below are ranked by median wage in Indianapolis, IN, IN, from BLS OEWS data. Indianapolis, IN's cost-of-living index runs 90.1 (national baseline = 100), which shapes the headline-wage interpretation. Top-paying occupations in any U.S. metro typically cluster around physicians, dentists, executives, tech specialists, and licensed professionals. The specific top of the list varies with local industry concentration: tech-heavy metros boost software-engineering ranks, finance-heavy metros boost banking ranks.
Each role on the ranking links to the per-role-and-city page with full percentile distribution (p10 to p90), employment count, and cost-adjusted wage. For workers comparing offers within Indianapolis, IN, the percentile data is the most decision-relevant.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Indianapolis, IN
Ranked by median (50th percentile) salary. The COL-Adjusted column rebases each nominal salary to Indianapolis, IN's cost-of-living index of 90.1 so you can compare buying power against an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $346,920 · 10th–90th $66,430–$366,350 · 0 jobs in metro
Obstetrician/Gynecologists in Indianapolis, IN earn $346,920 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $366,350. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $385,039 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $287,130 · 10th–90th $137,750–$509,200 · 690 jobs in metro
Family Medicine Physicians in Indianapolis, IN earn $287,130 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $509,200. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $318,679 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $170,020 · 10th–90th $140,450–$276,030 · 920 jobs in metro
Pediatricians in Indianapolis, IN earn $170,020 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $276,030. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $188,701 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $166,120 · 10th–90th $77,540–$322,760 · 1,020 jobs in metro
Dentists in Indianapolis, IN earn $166,120 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $322,760. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $184,373 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $155,230 · 10th–90th $100,530–$214,110 · 3,880 jobs in metro
Computer and Information Systems Managers in Indianapolis, IN earn $155,230 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $214,110. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $172,286 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $151,050 · 10th–90th $111,950–$170,110 · 2,220 jobs in metro
Pharmacists in Indianapolis, IN earn $151,050 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $170,110. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $167,647 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $146,620 · 10th–90th $88,490–$243,410 · 5,230 jobs in metro
Financial Managers in Indianapolis, IN earn $146,620 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $243,410. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $162,730 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $137,980 · 10th–90th $83,200–$223,700 · 1,550 jobs in metro
Marketing Managers in Indianapolis, IN earn $137,980 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $223,700. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $153,141 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $137,590 · 10th–90th $71,100–$215,290 · 340 jobs in metro
Optometrists in Indianapolis, IN earn $137,590 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $215,290. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $152,708 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $137,410 · 10th–90th $75,810–$251,320 · 4,200 jobs in metro
Sales Managers in Indianapolis, IN earn $137,410 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $251,320. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $152,508 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Full Ranking (63 Occupations)
| Rank | Role | Category | Median | 10th–90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obstetrician/Gynecologist | Healthcare | $346,920 | $66,430–$366,350 | $385,039 | 0 |
| 2 | Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $287,130 | $137,750–$509,200 | $318,679 | 690 |
| 3 | Pediatrician | Healthcare | $170,020 | $140,450–$276,030 | $188,701 | 920 |
| 4 | Dentist | Healthcare | $166,120 | $77,540–$322,760 | $184,373 | 1,020 |
| 5 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $155,230 | $100,530–$214,110 | $172,286 | 3,880 |
| 6 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $151,050 | $111,950–$170,110 | $167,647 | 2,220 |
| 7 | Financial Manager | Finance | $146,620 | $88,490–$243,410 | $162,730 | 5,230 |
| 8 | Marketing Manager | Management | $137,980 | $83,200–$223,700 | $153,141 | 1,550 |
| 9 | Optometrist | Healthcare | $137,590 | $71,100–$215,290 | $152,708 | 340 |
| 10 | Sales Manager | Management | $137,410 | $75,810–$251,320 | $152,508 | 4,200 |
| 11 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $135,770 | $89,310–$219,950 | $150,688 | 1,300 |
| 12 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $131,950 | $105,970–$177,240 | $146,448 | 700 |
| 13 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $130,680 | $76,880–$180,750 | $145,039 | 1,010 |
| 14 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $130,460 | $106,500–$152,090 | $144,795 | 2,530 |
| 15 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $127,850 | $64,500–$169,810 | $141,898 | 520 |
| 16 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $121,350 | $72,950–$162,410 | $134,684 | 400 |
| 17 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $120,480 | $57,710–$283,140 | $133,718 | 17,510 |
| 18 | Software Developer | Technology | $106,870 | $76,990–$158,970 | $118,613 | 7,140 |
| 19 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $106,010 | $71,770–$214,950 | $117,658 | 4,680 |
| 20 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $104,210 | $75,900–$155,170 | $115,660 | 1,260 |
| 21 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $103,770 | $77,790–$124,760 | $115,172 | 2,790 |
| 22 | Architect | Engineering | $103,050 | $53,960–$222,810 | $114,373 | 780 |
| 23 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $102,640 | $45,140–$426,180 | $113,918 | 2,400 |
| 24 | Computer Programmer | Technology | $102,070 | $67,360–$150,140 | $113,285 | 550 |
| 25 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $101,890 | $63,260–$159,450 | $113,085 | 5,080 |
| 26 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $101,830 | $71,380–$156,170 | $113,019 | 2,000 |
| 27 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $101,780 | $29,830–$139,450 | $112,963 | 1,990 |
| 28 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $100,730 | $67,260–$131,620 | $111,798 | 2,900 |
| 29 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $100,080 | $78,280–$124,680 | $111,077 | 1,660 |
| 30 | Database Architect | Technology | $99,990 | $58,970–$152,860 | $110,977 | 430 |
| 31 | Data Scientist | Technology | $99,110 | $61,800–$149,280 | $110,000 | 1,880 |
| 32 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $98,680 | $68,550–$154,450 | $109,523 | 2,140 |
| 33 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $98,060 | $62,840–$163,030 | $108,835 | 980 |
| 34 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $97,470 | $76,960–$113,950 | $108,180 | 1,780 |
| 35 | Management Analyst | Management | $97,020 | $60,300–$153,490 | $107,680 | 6,110 |
| 36 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $93,510 | $58,840–$133,110 | $103,785 | 990 |
| 37 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $93,320 | $63,370–$122,970 | $103,574 | 1,360 |
| 38 | Audiologist | Healthcare | $90,360 | $65,790–$108,040 | $100,289 | 0 |
| 39 | Network Architect | Technology | $89,770 | $61,500–$132,370 | $99,634 | 1,850 |
| 40 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $86,800 | $68,840–$137,460 | $96,337 | 120 |
| 41 | Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $86,660 | $59,950–$156,290 | $96,182 | 640 |
| 42 | Statistician | Technology | $84,570 | $36,070–$190,150 | $93,862 | 130 |
| 43 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $84,230 | $69,160–$105,240 | $93,485 | 25,800 |
| 44 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $83,570 | $60,370–$177,690 | $92,752 | 210 |
| 45 | Web Designer | Technology | $82,820 | $56,550–$128,130 | $91,920 | 300 |
| 46 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $80,470 | $55,240–$130,020 | $89,312 | 1,570 |
| 47 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $79,910 | $49,410–$129,020 | $88,690 | 1,730 |
| 48 | Accountant | Finance | $79,290 | $52,820–$129,180 | $88,002 | 11,210 |
| 49 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $78,270 | $41,140–$318,250 | $86,870 | 430 |
| 50 | Plumber | Trades | $76,980 | $46,740–$102,370 | $85,438 | 4,010 |
| 51 | Loan Officer | Finance | $74,790 | $42,640–$130,140 | $83,008 | 1,690 |
| 52 | Web Developer | Technology | $67,530 | $35,590–$126,120 | $74,950 | 490 |
| 53 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $66,450 | $45,440–$107,110 | $73,751 | 1,740 |
| 54 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $65,200 | $43,050–$120,560 | $72,364 | 6,330 |
| 55 | Electrician | Trades | $65,130 | $41,610–$98,690 | $72,286 | 5,390 |
| 56 | Carpenter | Trades | $65,070 | $46,940–$88,570 | $72,220 | 4,960 |
| 57 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $62,570 | $49,680–$98,110 | $69,445 | 6,160 |
| 58 | Paralegal | Legal | $62,130 | $44,630–$99,730 | $68,957 | 2,770 |
| 59 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $60,520 | $39,450–$114,810 | $67,170 | 1,530 |
| 60 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $60,510 | $49,120–$79,850 | $67,159 | 8,610 |
| 61 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $58,910 | $40,150–$87,530 | $65,383 | 3,510 |
| 62 | Welder | Trades | $51,070 | $37,690–$76,130 | $56,681 | 2,790 |
| 63 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $50,530 | $36,100–$80,060 | $56,082 | 5,600 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis, IN's pay distribution reflects its mix of regional employers and industries, plus the local cost of living that affects nominal salary levels in the BLS data.
An average median salary above $90K places this metro in the top tier of U.S. cities for nominal pay. Most of that premium accrues to the upper percentiles of skilled and managerial occupations; entry-level and service-sector pay is closer to national norms.
Indianapolis, IN's cost-of-living index of 90.1 runs 10% below the U.S. national average. Lower nominal pay here often translates to comparable or better purchasing power than higher headline numbers in coastal hubs — see the COL-Adjusted column for the apples-to-apples figure.
How to Use This Ranking
For salary negotiation, the median is a starting anchor — not the ceiling. A Obstetrician/Gynecologist with five-plus years of experience in Indianapolis, IN should be benchmarking against the 75th percentile ($356,635) or 90th percentile ($366,350), not the $346,920 median. Use the salary percentile calculator to place any specific salary into the BLS distribution for any role-and-city pair.
For cross-city comparisons, ignore the nominal Median column and look at COL-Adjusted. A $347K Obstetrician/Gynecologist salary in Indianapolis, IN (COL 90.1) translates to $385K of buying power in an average-cost metro — that is the apples-to-apples figure when weighing a relocation. Read the methodology behind these adjustments in our methodology page.
For job hunting, focus on the top-10 ranking above and on the role-by-role detail pages — each links through to a Obstetrician/Gynecologist in Indianapolis, IN page with full percentile breakdowns, year-over-year change, and prevailing-wage references for H-1B / PERM applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in Indianapolis, IN is Obstetrician/Gynecologist with a median salary of $346,920 and a 90th-percentile reading of $366,350. The role employs roughly 0 workers in this metro according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2025 OEWS data.
29 of the 63 BLS-tracked occupations in Indianapolis, IN have a median salary of $100,000 or higher. That is well above what most U.S. metros offer. See the full list ranked by median salary above.
Across 63 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in Indianapolis, IN is $105,410. The cost-of-living index is 90.1, so adjusted to a national-average baseline, the average is $116,992 in equivalent purchasing power.
Indianapolis, IN has a cost-of-living index of 90.1, below the national average. Nominal pay translates better than face value, making it a strong choice for many careers — particularly the Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Family Medicine Physician, Pediatrician occupations at the top of the ranking.
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers across all industries. The OEWS publishes 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile wages by Metropolitan Statistical Area and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. The same data is used by the Department of Labor for prevailing wage determinations.
Related Pages
Rankings based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 reference period. COL adjustments use a composite cost-of-living index calibrated to U.S. average = 100.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.